How Do You Choose Your Resort?

Well our goal is to stay at every resort at least once so, for right now, we haven't stayed at a single resort twice. That factors in big when we're choosing our resort. The type of trip is also important. So for our April trip it was kind of a whirlwind, last minute trip that was fewer days then we were used to so we knew we were going to spend every minute in the parks so we went with Value and chose Pop from all of the recommendations. Our upcoming February trip will be a bit more relaxed and we have a Disney Springs day planned in the middle of our trip so we're currently booked at POFQ. Our November 2017 trip will be with my family (mom, dad, two adult sisters, Jon, Penny, and me) where we are going uber relaxed, 10 days which is our longest trip yet. Mom and Dad have some mobility issues so we're hoping for Boardwalk (renting DVC) so that we have easy transportation to two of the four parks.

Discounts also factor in. For example, if POFQ isn't included in the discounts for February we will probably switch to POR or possibly even one of the All Stars (hopefully not).

With us being DVC members, we of course look at DVC properties first and foremost.

Our home resort is Animal Kingdom which we love. We don't mind that it is "out of the way" It's one of the big draws for us. Kidani is quiet. So quiet in fact that during our Thanksgiving trip we didn't run into more than 20 or so other guests during the week. We park, head to the room and relax away from the crowds. When we would venture to the lobby was about the only time we saw anyone.

We are also big fans of Animal Kingdom, with the new late hours and us falling in love with night time AK, it is perfect!

If I am going and not using points, I would rather stay value. #1, I'm not in the room that much and #2, I would rather spend my moolah on other things (grand marnier slushes, blood orange sake mists, lapu lapus)

I myself would like to make my way through all of the resorts at some point but I'm not in a big hurry.

I would like to stay all resorts. I don't mind the values (Pop being my favorite). I am trying deluxe for the first time in December. Now that I found how easy it is rent points, it will make it more affordable for me to try different deluxe resorts. I am staying at new to me resorts in December (Old Key West), February (Animal Kingdom Kadani Village) and April (All Star Movies).

As DVC members it depends how many points we have We're also trying to stay at all the DVC resorts at least once. The only value we haven't been to yet is All Star Sports which we'll be trying out eventually because I keep using all our points for RunDisney
We'll never stay at all the moderates because the price difference between them and Values are not worth it to us plus we love the Values.

I know we haven't been yet but for our upcoming trip we decided by checking out reviews, opinions on here and talking to people who have been. We chose POR when I have that one friend who goes every year ha! and I had another who had her honeymoon there.

For when I stay on property the first time I went to POFQ I knew that was 'my' resort. I originally chose it because of the size, the 1 bus stop, close to everything, walking path to POR and the boat to Disney Springs.

We have started splitting our stays. For a 7 night trip we will stay at a value for 4-5 nights and then a Deluxe for the remainder. It is so easy. The resorts will transfer your bags, you dont really miss a beat. Often times for a short stay at a Deluxe you can find reduced rates or apply PH discounts easier. And there is no issue with using Magical Express.

For DVC resorts, we choose the most convenient location with the most desirable that's available to us at 7 months for the most reasonable number of points, our favorites being Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge. When we're out of points (tragically, now), it's time to work on the stay-at-every-Disney-resort bucket list, so we pick the one with the best combination of price, location, and features that's left on the list. Next weekend is AoA and the first weekend of October is All-Star Movies. Then we'll be down to Pop, Caribbean Beach, Fort Wilderness, and Grand Floridian on our to-try list.

1. Do we have DVC points we can use? If so, do we want to stay at our home resort? If we don't want to stay at our home resort, what else is available and which resort is the best fit for our traveling party if we're bringing more than just the two of us?

2. Are we trying for an RCI exchange? If so, what (if anything) is available when we want to go?

3. If none of the above two considerations are in play, which value resort is most economical and convenient?

Dang! That's impressive!

I haven't been either, but POR was my first choice...however our budget does not allow for it, so we have chosen the value resort All-Star Music for our first visit. We know we won't be spending much time in the room & we will plan to stay at other places when we return...I know we will have to return...again & again & again..!!

Hmmm....

As much as I'd like to have the "try all the resorts bucket list", my creature habits draw me to the same locations.

I will say, that location seems to drive my decision making, and also whether I'm traveling with someone or by myself.

That said, I've been to the All Star Movies Resort a couple of times. And as a discount resort, it was fine, but I found the transportation times long, the crowds for the buses (both ways) heavy, and I found myself disliking the distance I had to walk to my room at night from the bus stops and/or from the main registration building. As a single female, having to walk a fairly long distance to my room from the main lobby/bus stop late at night in particular, seemed discomforting, especially when there weren't many people around.

That said, costs tend to keep me away from the luxury resorts, and I don't own any part in DVC. My favorite location, however, is between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and all of the wholly disney resorts there fit the luxury category.

I do, however, find that the Swan and the Dolphin, often have the many of same amenities (extra magic hours, disney transportation) for the same, or a little less than the moderate resorts. Especially when I travel by myself, I find a dining plan wholly unnecessary. While I always end up paying the extra $20/day resort fee, I appreciate the bottle of water per day, as well as having a mini-fridge in my room. I also truly enjoy the convenience of being able to walk to the Boardwalk, or to Epcot and Hollywood (especially Epcot for lunch or shopping), especially if the boats are down for stormy weather. [Although I will admit I will be far more conscious to be on 'gator' watch in the future... That's pretty marshy and swampy water on the way to Hollywood.]

So Location tends to draw me to the Dolphin.

Jan and I, now Becky and I, have been to every WDW resort. Not to sleep in their beds but eat, drink and sometimes swim in their pools. We never go to any theme parks.
Jan and I did this about 4 times a year. That was staying at a resort at least 4 days on each trip. We could not have done that if not for the value resorts and being Fl. residents. We only were at our resort to grab a bite to eat or drink and go to sleep. No point paying high bucks for a bed. When Jan was in better health we stayed at Ft. Wilderness in our motor home. Probably about 30 times. From then on we chose Pop Century. Been staying there since they opened in mid 1990s.
Becky and I will be there the first week in Dec. 2016.
Joe

Preview	Attachment	Size
	img_20150324_104557_755.jpg	1.84 MB